1 Draft Report SURVEY ON VEGETATION OF ALPINE MEADOWS AND PASTURES OF THE PRESPA NATIONAL PARK IN ALBANIA ASSESSMENT OF CARRYING CAPACITY OF PASTURES IN THE FARME OF THE PROJECT “Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa - Support to Prespa National Park in Albania”, funded by KfW Entwicklungsbank II. Field report Tirana November, 2012 2 Table of contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4 2. The Study Area ......................................................................................................................... 4 3. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 4 4. The Results ................................................................................................................................ 5 4.1. Thefloristic investigation in PNP during years 2011 and 2012 .......................................... 5 4.2. New important plant species for the flora of the PNP and flora of Albania ....................... 5 4.3. New globally endangered and indicator species for the PNP ................................................ 18 5. Monitoring protocol for assessing of indicator species and habitats ................................. 18 5.1. Methodology and Discription ................................................................................................ 19 6. Monitoring of Cvijici’s Saffron ............................................................................................. 23 6.2. Description of Crocus cvijicii .............................................................................................. 24 6.3. Distribution of the species in Albania and Balkans .............................................................. 24 6.4. Monitoring results ................................................................................................................. 25 6.5. Valorization, risks: .............................................................................................................. 28 7. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 28 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... 29 8. Further investigation and monitoring ...................................................................................... 29 9. Literature ...................................................................................................................................... 30 10. Annexes ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Annex I. Plant Inventory List ....................................................................................................... 31 3 1. Introduction The Prespa region, shared between three countries, Albania, Greece and FYR Macedonia is considered to be an integrated ecosystem of global significance and has been identified as one of Europe’s major trans-boundary “ecological bricks”. The Prespa basin is distinguished for its reach flora and fauna and unique habitats that are important from both European and global conservation perspective. The high Biodiversity value of Prespa region was represented by high level of endemic and balkanic species with great importance in the phytogeographical point of view. 2. The Study Area The focus on plant diversity observation has been all the entire area of the National Prespa Park: Mikro and Makro Prespa watershed as well as the Dry and Ivani Mountain. The time of field trip was different from that of previous one. The itinerary of field trips carried out during May 28 up to May 31 was: 28/05/2012: -Plant observation in the lower parts of Cerja and Rakicka Villages. 29/05/2012: - Investigation of the vegetation and plant species diversity in the Ivani Mt. 30/05/2012: -Investigation plant species diversity and monitoring of Cvijici’s Saffron populations in the Dry Mountain. 31/05/2012: Plant observation in the lower parts of Shengjergji and Liqenas Villages and upper part of the Lapidari in order to monitor populations of Cvijici’s Saffron.- The expedition of July 2012, (carried out from 13.07.2012 up to 20.07.2012), were focused mainly on assessment of the carrying capacities of the pastures in Prespa National Park. 3. Methodology The philosophy of plant investigation and monitoring in the alpine pastures and meadows is based on examination of the state biodiversity by using transects. Two types of transects, line and belt transect, are used for the plant diversity assessment in the alpine pastures (Reiss & Chapman, 2000). In the following we will use in general the permanent plots or quadrats on selected habitats of ecosystems for biodiversity monitoring. The quantity value of the monitoring includes the recording of presence/absence of Indicator Species and threatened habitats of European interest. The detailed methodology for the plant species monitoring in the alpine pastures and meadows as much as the values and tendency, collectivity (sociality), degree of permanence (constancy), stratification, life forms and their representation in percentages of species and populations were described in the chapter of species and vegetation monitoring. The details for all recorded elements over time within habitat and the quadrats are presented in the template sheets and the respective tables. 4 4. The Results The complex ecosystem of Limestone Mountains around the Prespa Lakes is characterized by high level of orography, geology and biodiversity richness. This has been emphasized by Albanian and foreigner botanists that have visited the region and also by us in the first report in previous year. 4.1. Thefloristic investigation in PNP during years 2011 and 2012 The vegetation cover in observed areas is a reliable indicator for its specific evolutionary geomorphology, is influenced in a great number of plant communities and plant species. The flora of the Prespa Park encompasses over 1,100 vascular plants included in 437 genus and 100 plant families. On a small surface of the Park 228 km 2, occurs near 33% of total plant species that occurs in Albania. There has been identified nearly 20 endemic and near endemic species, during regular investigation on two years in the Prespa Park. That high level of floristic and vegetation richness places this area among the most diverse areas in Albania and whole Prespa region. 4.2. New important plant species for the flora of the PNP and flora of Albania There is increased the presence of the local endemic species of the Prespa Park with two more species Laserpitium ochridanum Micev. and Alkanna nonneiformis Griseb. The first species were known so far from the adjacent parts of Dry Mt in Macedonian side, whereas the second one is a globally endangered species of the Prespa Park. The species were included in the Red List of endangered species of IUCN (Walter & Gillet, 1998). It occurs in Prespa watershed of the Macedonia, Greece and recently it was recorded in the eastern slopes of the Dry Mountain. Centaurea athoa DC. subsp. parnonia (Halacsy) Gamal-Eldin & Wagenitz.is another taxon known to grow only in Peloponnesian Peninsula, far from the Cerja Village in Prespa Park, where it is recorded on July of this year. Near endemic species for the flora of Albania. Viola chelmea Boiss. & Heldr., Iris pumila subsp. attica (Boiss. & Heldr.) K.Richt and Hesperis rechingeri Dvořák are three other species that share their growing habitat between Albania, Greece and FYR Macedonia. Distribution areal of this species is larger than three first species mentioned above, that means they occurence extends and out of the Prespa Region. During spring and summer field trips in the Prespa Park were recorded and Colchicum doerfleri Halascy, Stachys plumosa Griseb. and Onosma javorkae Simonka, that previous have been recorded in other Balkan countries. The distribution range of this species is enlarged with new records in Albanian territories of the Prespa National Park. In the following, data about habitat and localities, data from literature and proposed conservation measures for each new species are given. 5 Laserpitium ochridanum Micev. Distribution on PNP: Subalpine pastures of NE parts of Dray Mountain and Ivani Mt. Holotypus: Galičica: Stara Galičica, in saxosis calcareis, 2010 m. (16.07.1968, leg. et det. K. Micevski)(SKO)(Micevski, 1981) Data of literature. Laserpitium ochridanum has been known so far as local endemic of Galicica Mt (only in Macedonian part) (Micevski, 1981; 2005). The species is included to the Laserpitium siler L. group. It is closest relative of L. siler subsp. zernyi (Hayek, 1933) which is another subendemic species of Albania and Macedonia (Csiki et al ., 1926; Tutin et al ., 1968; Strid, 1986). The plant is easily identifiable due to its pinnatifid leaves with wide leaflets without stalks and smooth margines. The leaves of L. ochridanum are also aromatic. Figure 1. Inflorescence and flowers Survey data: First record of the species for the of Laserpitium ochridanum (L. Shuka, Albanian part of PNP was during the expeditions of 08/07/2011) last year, on 08.07. 2011 . The population was localized within the core zone of the park, near the Macedonian border above the tree line up to the ex-military point.